(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs will put their 10-game winning streak
on the line Wednesday night in their first game since the Tim Duncan injury
when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Duncan missed the previous four games with a sore left knee, then returned
Saturday night against the Washington Wizards. Duncan was injured when
Washington's Martell Webster rolled onto the back of Duncan's knee.
During the collision, Duncan injured his left knee and sprained his right
ankle. He underwent an MRI Sunday in San Antonio and it revealed no structural
damage. He is listed as day-to-day, but is not expected to be in the lineup
against Minnesota.
"That's great. We need him for our team to win," Kawhi Leonard said after
practice on Monday. "We need the chemistry right now. You never know with Tim.
He might just suit up."
The Spurs hung on to beat the Wizards, 96-86. Tony Parker led the way for the
Spurs with 19 points and 12 assists. Danny Green added 15 points and Tiago
Splitter chipped in 12. Leonard had a double-double with 10 points and 11
rebounds.
San Antonio has played great long before the 10-game winning streak. The Spurs
have taken 19 of their last 22 and three in a row on the road. All three
losses during this brilliant run came away from home.
The T'Wolves lost on Monday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was
their seventh loss in their last eight, although they fought like crazy to
beat the Blazers.
Minnesota scored 40 points in the final frame, but came up just short in a
100-98 loss. Dante Cunningham missed a last-second jumper that could've tied
it.
"In the last six minutes we turned it up and the energy was high," coach Rick
Adelman said. "Got some turnovers, made some shots, but you get too far down
and it's too hard to get back. Everything has to be perfect to come back and
win that game."
The Timberwolves forced an astonishing 28 turnovers and scored 33 points off
those miscues. Cunningham paced the Wolves with 23 points and four other
Minnesota players scored in double figures, including a season-high 15 points
from Ricky Rubio. He matched his career-high with 14 assists.
Forward Andrei Kirilenko left the Blazers game in the second quarter with a
strained right quadriceps. He is listed as questionable for Wednesday's
contest.
The Spurs have won 18 of their last 20 against the Timberwolves, but the only
two losses during that stretch were their last two in Minnesota.
The Sports Network